# Perusing my Census Form **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 16, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695 "2010-03-16T20:58:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695/61 "2010-03-17T16:25:58Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > If you have a problem with the cost aspect of the mass mailing, don’t you think it would be better to fill out the form when you receive it, rather than forcing the Census Bureau to send people to your home multiple times in an attempt to collect the data? > [@kayaker](#): > > It just seems to me that the people who are not going to respond ( **which does not include me btw** ) are not going to be tweaked into responding by a second mailing. ??? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695/62 "2010-03-17T16:27:21Z")
do temporary census workers get paid by the hour or the address? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695/63 "2010-03-17T16:29:43Z")
> [@Rasa](#): > > It just took me under a minute to complete my form. You guys are quick! I mean, sure, the English section was easy, but it took me forever to work my way through the Spanish part. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695/64 "2010-03-17T16:45:42Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > It has been proven? Do you have a cite for that claim? It just seems to me that the people who are not going to respond (which does not include me btw) are not going to be tweaked into responding by a second mailing. > > Personally, I have a problem with the cost aspect. If there were a balanced budget amendment in place, I would not object to the cost. While I’d be glad to provide a citation, would it really change your mind? ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695/65 "2010-03-17T16:56:59Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > You guys are quick! I mean, sure, the English section was easy, but it took me forever to work my way through the Spanish part. Man, I hope it wasn’t graded. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695/66 "2010-03-17T18:55:10Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > do temporary census workers get paid by the hour or the address? Hour. We also get mileage for using our own vehicles. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695/67 "2010-03-17T19:19:59Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > You guys are quick! I mean, sure, the English section was easy, but it took me forever to work my way through the Spanish part. I had trouble with the analogy section myself. Does anyone know if it’s like the SAT where you lose points for the wrong answer? ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695/68 "2010-03-17T19:27:05Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I’m cool with the form, except “race.” How the heck am I supposed to know what race I am? I never had a blood test for that. Put “Indy Car.” ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695/69 "2010-03-17T20:13:28Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > I’m feeling peckish today 😉 So eat something already. > [@Musicat](#): > > So the number of persons living at that address, if all adults, would satisfy that, right? [Including plants and candy bars?](http://snltranscripts.jt.org/99/99pcensus.phtml) ---
**Author:** ![Telcontar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Telcontar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telcontar)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695/70 "2010-03-17T21:46:33Z")
> [@ghardester](#): > > The census has become a tool for entrenching and perpetuating racial discrimination and I just toss anything I get from them. Care to explain? > [@kayaker](#): > > It has been proven? Do you have a cite for that claim? It just seems to me that the people who are not going to respond (which does not include me btw) are not going to be tweaked into responding by a second mailing. I don’t have the book handy anymore, but everyone who does mail based survey research for marketing and research reasons has found that followups work wonders. Presumably it taps the “oh, i meant to do that, I just forgot” crowd. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695/71 "2010-03-17T21:49:29Z")
My only complaint\* is that the the “10 Questions…” they’re on about is actually false advertising. It’s actually 4+(6\*\*x\*), where _x_ is the number of residents in the household. \*: Not an actual complaint, just a humorous observation. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695/72 "2010-03-17T21:54:06Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > The Constitution says that an enumeration shall take place “within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they [Congress] shall by law direct.” > > Congress is directing you to fill out the damn form. > > Furthermore, by not filling out the form correctly, you are wasting taxpayer money. It costs an average of $56 each time a census taker is sent to track you down. Check, The enumerated power to conduct the Census is in Article I, Section 2: > [@the Founding Fathers](#): > > Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695/73 "2010-03-17T22:26:54Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > While I’d be glad to provide a citation, would it really change your mind? Actually, if the study were done in a meaningful way, yes. I’m not stupid, It just does not seem like there would be a good return on investment in this setting. I _know_ people who are rabidly against the Census. They will not return it. They would not fill it out if they received weekly mailings. Maybe there are enough people “on the cusp” who would be persuaded by the mailing, _I don’t know._ That’s why I asked for a cite. You say you have read information that supports there being a worthwhile response, but if you hadn’t are you telling me it is self evident? Oh, and: > [@Ravenman](#): > > would it really change your mind? Why the fuck would you presume it wouldn’t? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695/74 "2010-03-18T00:09:28Z")
There was an interesting article in our local paper today. Parts of some counties in the extreme northern part of Wisconsin had such a poor initial response (less than 50%) in the last census that they have decided not to mail the forms, but scheduled a personal visit to each address. The theory is that so many addresses are seasonally occupied and they need to determine just which ones; the owners might not live there year-round, but the census doesn’t want to assume that without proof. ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695/75 "2010-03-18T01:31:39Z")
I sent mine back but The Census main objective seemed to be trying to find out your race. They gave so many choices. I felt like leaving that part blank. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695/76 "2010-03-18T02:19:18Z")
I’m way more scared of the IRS than the Census people, and I figure the IRS already knows way more about me than the Census ever will, so why worry? Though I did think the whole section on what variety of Hispanic you might be was…weird. Why not have all of that under the other question about race? I can understand why for statistical purposes the race/background question is useful, like it or not, though my sympathy lies with the “human” answerers. Where I live we don’t have mail delivery, so no letter a week or two ahead. It was hanging from my doorknob when I got home from work. OMG, they know where I live!!! ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695/77 "2010-03-18T04:20:23Z")
> [@Telcontar](#): > > Care to explain? Sure. The emphasis on self-defining as a race or sub-set within a racial category is used to direct government money and services toward those groups. These policies reinforce and perpetuate divisions within society. Even though the programs targeted toward racial sub-sets are meant to benefit rather than harm those groups, it is still by definition discrimination. From here: [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/discrimination](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/discrimination) "treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit: " It is my viewpoint that this targeted discrimination is detrimental to society as a whole. ---
**Author:** ![Telcontar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Telcontar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telcontar)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695/78 "2010-03-18T05:34:48Z")
> [@ghardester](#): > > Sure. The emphasis on self-defining as a race or sub-set within a racial category is used to direct government money and services toward those groups. These policies reinforce and perpetuate divisions within society. > > Even though the programs targeted toward racial sub-sets are meant to benefit rather than harm those groups, it is still by definition discrimination. From here: > > [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/discrimination](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/discrimination) > > "treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit: " > > It is my viewpoint that this targeted discrimination is detrimental to society as a whole. So leave the race portion blank. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695/79 "2010-03-18T12:15:09Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > There was an interesting article in our local paper today. Parts of some counties in the extreme northern part of Wisconsin had such a poor initial response (less than 50%) in the last census that they have decided not to mail the forms, but scheduled a personal visit to each address. The theory is that so many addresses are seasonally occupied and they need to determine just which ones; the owners might not live there year-round, but the census doesn’t want to assume that without proof. That’s an issue in parts of Pennsylvania, too. One of the things my team had to do was to visit gated communities to find out how many of them catered to seasonal occupants, and to ask the community management to encourage subletters to fill out their forms. **kayaker** , think of Census participation as a graduated range. There are people who love the Census and would fill out a dozen forms if asked. They’re also good about encouraging their family and friends to participate and have helped with PR efforts. There are people who hate the Census and who will happily chase the enumerator off with a shotgun. Those are the black and white ends of the range. The Census is concerned with the ones in the middle: The people who have no reasons not to cooperate, but may forget to send it back, or who think they’re supposed to wait for a visit from an enumerator (This is actually quite common for the elderly; they’re used to that and don’t understand why it’s on a paper form that they mail back.), or what have you. The letter that went out last week was a gentle reminder to expect the form and to fill it out and send it back. That’s all it was. ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695/80 "2010-03-18T13:53:34Z")
> [@Student\_Driver](#): > > But, and this is a big but… > > …filling out the census doesn’t get me a discount on a bag of Doritos. That adds up, man. This seems like an angle that would get a lot of traction. Fill out your census form and we’ll mail you a cheque for $56. (Otherwise, we’ll spend that $56 coming to your door and you’ll get $0). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perusing-my-census-form/532695.md?page=5)